05 June,2015 01:45 PM IST | | AFP
Spanish champions Barcelona take on Italian title winners Juventus at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Saturday in the final of the Champions League
Spanish champions Barcelona take on Italian title winners Juventus at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Saturday in the final of the Champions League.
Barcelona are looking to win the European Cup for the fifth time and the fourth time in 10 seasons, while Juventus are chasing a third European Cup, 30 years after winning their first on the night of the Heysel disaster.
Also Read: Five great European Cup/Champions League final goals
Both clubs are aiming to achieve the rare feat of winning the treble, having both won their domestic league and cup this season.
Also Read: Top 5 UEFA Champions League finals ever
Five key questions in the Champions League final
Can the Juventus defence contain Barcelona's MSN strike-force?
Barcelona's South American strike-force of Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, Brazil's Neymar and Uruguay's Luis Suarez have scored 120 goals between them already this season as Suarez has slotted seamlessly into Barca's attack and Messi has been in the form of his career. But the Juventus back four managed to subdue Real Madrid's star-studded attack and soaked up all that Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema threw at them in the second leg of their semi-final tie. Now, without the injured Giorgio Chiellini, they must repeat that performance.
Can Juventus get a grip on Barcelona in midfield?
Led by the class of veteran Andrea Pirlo, and with Arturo Vidal, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba in there too, there is enough quality in the Juventus midfield for them to take on the Barcelona trio of Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta. Barcelona can also call on the veteran Xavi Hernandez, who will at some point during the game make his final appearance for the Catalans before joining Qatari side Al Sadd next season.
Can the old master Gianluigi Buffon outshine Barcelona 'keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen?
As the only survivor from Juventus' last Champions League final appearance in 2003, the 37-year-old Buffon is showing no signs of ageing and is determined to win his first European Cup. Buffon, who was outstanding in Juve's 3-2 semi-final win on aggregate over Real Madrid, is relishing a return to the Olympic Stadium where he won the World Cup with Italy in 2006. In the opposite goal, Ter Stegen, who is 14 years Buffon's junior, has got the nod in Europe this season despite coach Luis Enrique selecting the Chilean Claudio Bravo in La Liga. Now, in his first season playing in Europe's elite club competition, he is looking forward to facing one of his childhood heroes. "Buffon is a legend. He really has played a remarkable season. It was great to see him perform the way he did against Real Madrid," said Ter Stegen. "It's a good opportunity for him, but I hope I can win the final, not him."
Can Morata and Tevez break their Barcelona duck?
With 14 and 29 goals respectively, Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez have forged an impressive partnership up front for Juventus, but both have an extra point to prove against Barcelona. Morata never scored against Barca when he was on the books at Real Madrid, while Tevez was on the losing side for Manchester United against Barcelona in his last Champions League final appearance. Having lifted the trophy with United in Moscow in May 2008 by beating Chelsea on penalties in the final, Tevez played the second half of the 2009 final in Rome when Messi orchestrated Barca's 2-0 victory. While Messi threatens to again steal the limelight in Berlin, Barcelona's Javier Mascherano warns their Argentinian compatriot Tevez is just as deadly in front of goal. "He is one of the best players I have ever shared a pitch with and he has an incredible winning mentality," said Mascherano. "He is a player that likes to play these type of games and clearly is one of the most important players in the Juventus team."
Can Juventus break Barcelona's resolve at set-pieces?
Only once this season has Barcelona's defence been breached from a set-piece, when Bayern Munich defender Medhi Benatia headed past Ter Stegen from a corner early in the Champions League semi-final second leg. But with their height and strength, Juventus will test the Catalans' defence in the air from dead-ball situations. Morata's crucial equaliser following a Pirlo free-kick in the semi-final second leg against Madrid ultimately booked Juve's ticket to Berlin. Barcelona's centre-backs Mascherano and Gerard Pique will therefore need to be at the top of their game in the final, especially whenever Pirlo gets the chance to send in a free-kick.
Juventus and Barcelona's paths to the 2014-15 Champions League final
JUVENTUS (ITA)
Group A (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points)
Atletico Madrid 6 4 1 1 14 3 13
Juventus 6 3 1 2 7 4 10
Olympiakos 6 3 0 3 10 13 9
Malmo 6 1 0 5 4 15 3
Round of 16
Juventus 2 (Tevez 13, Morata 43) Borussia Dortmund (GER) 1 (Reus 18)
Borussia Dortmund (GER) 0 Juventus 3 (Tevez 3, 79, Morata 70)
Juventus win 5-1 on aggregate
Quarter-finals
Juventus 1 (Vidal 57-pen) Monaco (FRA) 0
Monaco (FRA) 0 Juventus 0
Juventus win 1-0 on aggregate
Semi-finals
Juventus 2 (Morata 8, Tevez 58-pen) Real Madrid (ESP) 1 (Ronaldo 27)
Real Madrid (ESP) 1 (Ronaldo 23-pen) Juventus 1 (Morata 57)
Juventus win 3-2 on aggregate
BARCELONA (ESP)
Group F (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points)
Barcelona 6 5 0 1 15 5 15
Paris Saint-Germain 6 4 1 1 10 7 13
Ajax 6 1 2 3 8 10 5
APOEL 6 0 1 5 1 12 1
Round of 16
Manchester City (ENG) 1 (Aguero 69) Barcelona 2 (Suarez 16, 30)
Barcelona 1 (Rakitic 31) Manchester City (ENG) 0
Barcelona win 3-1 on aggregate
Quarter-finals
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) 1 (Mathieu 82-og) Barcelona 3 (Neymar 18, Suarez 67, 79)
Barcelona 2 (Neymar 14, 34) Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) 0
Barcelona win 5-1 on aggregate
Semi-finals
Barcelona 3 (Messi 77, 80, Neymar 90+4) Bayern Munich (GER) 0
Bayern Munich (GER) 3 (Benatia 7, Lewandowski 59, Mueller 74) Barcelona 2 (Neymar 15, 29)
Barcelona win 5-3 on aggregate
Round of 16
Juventus 2 (Tevez 13, Morata 43) Borussia Dortmund (GER) 1 (Reus 18)
Borussia Dortmund (GER) 0 Juventus 3 (Tevez 3, 79, Morata 70)
Juventus win 5-1 on aggregate
Quarter-finals
Juventus 1 (Vidal 57-pen) Monaco (FRA) 0
Monaco (FRA) 0 Juventus 0
Juventus win 1-0 on aggregate
Semi-finals
Juventus 2 (Morata 8, Tevez 58-pen) Real Madrid (ESP) 1 (Ronaldo 27)
Real Madrid (ESP) 1 (Ronaldo 23-pen) Juventus 1 (Morata 57)
Juventus win 3-2 on aggregate
JUVENTUS (ITA)
Group A (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points)
Atletico Madrid 6 4 1 1 14 3 13
Juventus 6 3 1 2 7 4 10
Olympiakos 6 3 0 3 10 13 9
Malmo 6 1 0 5 4 15 3
Round of 16
Juventus 2 (Tevez 13, Morata 43) Borussia Dortmund (GER) 1 (Reus 18)
Borussia Dortmund (GER) 0 Juventus 3 (Tevez 3, 79, Morata 70)
Juventus win 5-1 on aggregate
Quarter-finals
Juventus 1 (Vidal 57-pen) Monaco (FRA) 0
Monaco (FRA) 0 Juventus 0
Juventus win 1-0 on aggregate
Semi-finals
Juventus 2 (Morata 8, Tevez 58-pen) Real Madrid (ESP) 1 (Ronaldo 27)
Real Madrid (ESP) 1 (Ronaldo 23-pen) Juventus 1 (Morata 57)
Juventus win 3-2 on aggregate
Juventus v Barcelona factfile
Form:
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is bidding to emulate Pep Guardiola by winning only the second treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey in the club's history, following their 2009 feat. The Catalans won the Spanish title by two points from Real Madrid and beat Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final, and their South American strike-force of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are in top form with 120 goals between them.
In comparison, the entire Juventus team has managed 103 goals, but Argentina's Carlos Tevez has formed an impressive partnership with ex-Real forward Alvaro Morata to help take The Old Lady of Turin to the brink of their first treble. Massimiliano Allegri's won the Serie A title by 17 points and, with the Coppa Italia already secured, the Champions League title would be the icing on what has already been a very impressive season.
Coaches:
Juventus - Massimiliano Allegri (ITA) -- 47 yrs
Barcelona - Luis Enrique Martinez Garcia (ESP) -- 45 yrs
Leading scorers in all competitions
Juventus - Carlos Tevez (29 goals)
Barcelona - Lionel Messi (58 goals)
Domestic league performance
Barcelona - Barca earned their 23rd Spanish league title by finishing just ahead of Real Madrid in the table.
Juventus - Won Serie A for the 31st time with a 17-point margin from runners-up Roma.
Road to final
Barcelona - Winners of Group F ahead of PSG.
Beat Manchester City 3-1 on aggregate in the last 16 and eased past Paris Saint-Germain 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
Dispatched Bayern Munich 5-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals after a devastating 3-0 victory in the first leg at the Camp Nou.
Juventus - Runners-up in Group A behind Atletico Madrid.
Beat Borussia Dortmund 5-1 on aggregate in the last 16 and Monaco 1-0 in the quarter-finals before beating Real Madrid 3-2 in the semis to knock out the holders.
European Cup/Champions League best performances
Barcelona - winners 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011
Juventus - winners 1985, 1996
Other honours
Barcelona - 23 x Spanish champions, 27 x Copa del Rey winners, 4 x Cup Winners' Cup winners, 3 x Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners, 4 x UEFA Super Cup winners, 2 x Club World Cup winners
Juventus - 31 x Italian champions, 10 x Coppa Italia winners, 6 x Italian Supercup winners, 1 x Cup Winners' Cup winners, 3 x UEFA Cup winners, 2 x UEFA Supercup winners, 2 x Intercontinental Cup winners
